Han Solo is getting his own Star Wars origin film in 2018

The Anthology series of upcoming Star Wars films aims to highlight stories away from the main Episode VII-IX progression, and while Rogue One will feature lesser-known characters, the next one is picking one of the most beloved in the sci-fi universe.

That's right: Han Solo will be the star of his own standalone film, with the official announcement promising a look at "how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley." In other words, it probably won't be Harrison Ford in the role, unless it's as framing for flashbacks.

And as with the other upcoming Star Wars films, Disney and Lucasfilm have snapped up some serious young talent to helm the project. In this case, it's Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, the directing team behind The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, and TV series The Last Man on Earth.

"This is the first film we’ve worked on that seems like a good idea to begin with. We promise to take risks, to give the audience a fresh experience, and we pledge ourselves to be faithful stewards of these characters who mean so much to us," they said in a statement. "This is a dream come true for us. And not the kind of dream where you’re late for work and all your clothes are made of pudding, but the kind of dream where you get to make a film with some of the greatest characters ever, in a film franchise you’ve loved since before you can remember having dreams at all.”

Lawrence Kasdan, co-writer of The Empire Strikes Back and The Force Awakens, as well as writer and director of Raiders of the Lost Ark, will co-write the script with his son, Jon.

The as-yet-untitled Anthology film will release on 25 May 2018. Just as a recap, Episode VII: The Force Awakens comes out 18 December this year, Anthology: Rogue One hits on 16 December 2016, and then Episode VIII follows on 26 May 2017. So yes, indeed, there's plenty of Star Wars on its way over the next few years (and surely beyond).